forestall
/fɔː(ɹ)ˈstɔːl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.62 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert.
Transitive verb
verb
To purchase the complete supply of a good, particularly foodstuffs, in order to charge a monopoly price.
Archaic
verb
To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.
verb
To deprive (with of).
Example Sentences
- "Fred forestalled disaster by his prompt action."
- "The Act of 1846 also authorised a branch from the village of Broughty Ferry on the D. & A. to the pier at Broughty Ferry Castle. This action was taken to forestall the Edinburgh & Northern Railway, which had acquired the ferry between Ferryport-on-Craig (Tayport from July, 1851) and Broughty Ferry, and had hopes of a connecting railway on the north side of the Tay."
- "In French, an aspired h forestalls elision."
- "What need a man forestall his date of grief, / And run to meet what he would most avoid?"
- "She insisted on doing her share of the offices needful to the sick. She arranged his bed so that it was possible to change the sheet without disturbing him. She washed him. […] She did not speak to him much, but she was quick to forestall his wants."
- "All the better; may / This night forestall him of the coming day!"
Etymology
From Middle English forestallen (“to forestall, intercept, ambush, way-lay”), from forestalle (“a forestalling, interception”), from Old English foresteall (“intervention, hindrance of justice, ambush”), from fore- (“ahead of, before”) + steall (“position”), equivalent to fore- + stall.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Usage
- Transitive verb
- Archaic
- British usage
- Obsolete